Search results for "Air Pollutants"
showing 10 items of 207 documents
Assessment of the possibility of using deciduous tree bark as a biomonitor of heavy metal pollution of atmospheric aerosol
2019
The aim of the research was to assess the possibility to use deciduous tree bark in the biomonitoring of urban areas. The tree bark taken from various deciduous tree species growing in the Opole Province (south-western Poland) was used for the research. The bark was collected from tree trunks in the period of June 2–26, 2017. Concentrations of the heavy metals were determined in the barks by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). On the basis of the research, it was determined that type of tree, distance from pollution source, elevation off the ground and the side of trunk from which bark was sampled all influence the research results. A comparison of the values of coefficient of vari…
Soil mutagens are airborne mutagens: variation of mutagenic activities induced in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 by organic extracts of agri…
2000
As our hypothesis was that soil mutagens are airborne mutagens, possibly modified by soil microorganisms, we checked solvent extracts from agricultural and forest soils collected during late summer in the environment of Mainz, a region highly charged by anthropogenic air pollution, or near Bayreuth, a rural low charged region of Germany, or in a remote region of western Corsica without anthropogenic air pollution for the presence of mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium. Levels of mutagenic activities were quantified by calculation of revertants/g from the initial slope of dose-response curves applying tester strains S. typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 in the absence and presence of an activat…
Absorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by pinus bark: analytical method and use for environmental pollution monitoring in the Palermo area (S…
2007
Abstract In the light of using biomaterial as pollutants sorbents for the environmental biomonitoring, we report here the results of the absorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by pine bark. Quantitative analysis of 19 different polycyclic aromatic compounds was performed, after Soxhlet extraction in dichloromethane, by means GC–MS technique. Pinus was chosen due to its wide distribution in the Mediterranean area. The passive absorption of PAH by pine bark in the metropolitan areas allowed us to evaluate the air quality of Palermo. The obtained results showed a very high range of PAHs concentrations, from 33 μg/kg (bark dry weight), as ΣPAHs, at the control site to 1015 μg/kg …
The Application of Active Biomonitoring with the Use of Mosses to Identify Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Atmospheric Aerosol
2021
The use of biological indicators of environmental quality is an alternative method of monitoring ecosystem pollution. Various groups of contaminants, including organic ones, can be measured in environmental samples. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have not yet been determined by the moss bag technique. This technique uses several moss species simultaneously in urban areas to select the best biomonitoring of these compounds, which are dangerous to humans and the environment. In this research, a gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used for the determination of selected PAHs in three species of mosses: Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum fallax and Dicranum polysetum (acti…
Effect of pre-treatments based on UV photocatalysis and photo-oxidation on toluene biofiltration performance
2011
BACKGROUND: The integration of UV photocatalysis and biofiltration seems to be a promising combination of technologies for the removal of hydrophobic and poorly biodegradable air pollutants. The influence of pre-treatments based on UV254 nm photocatalysis and photo-oxidation on the biofiltration of toluene as a target compound was evaluated in a controlled long-term experimental study using different system configurations: a standalone biofilter, a combined UV photocatalytic reactor-biofilter, and a combined UV photo-oxidation reactor (without catalyst)-biofilter. RESULTS: Under the operational conditions used (residence time of 2.7 s and toluene concentrations 600–1200 mg C m−3), relativel…
Control of VOC emissions from a flexographic printing facility using an industrial biotrickling filter.
2011
The study of an industrial unit of biotrickling filter for the treatment of the exhaust gases of a flexographic facility was investigated over a 2-year period with the objective to meet the volatile organic compound (VOC) regulatory emission limits. Increasing the water flow rate from 2 to 40 m3 h−1 improved the performance of the process, meeting the VOC regulation when 40 m3 h−1 were used. An empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 36 s was used when the inlet air temperature was 18.7 °C, and an EBRT as low as 26 s was set when the inlet temperature was 26.8 °C. During this long-term operation, the pressure drop over the column of the bioreactor was completely controlled avoiding clogging prob…
Metaproteomic analysis of atmospheric aerosol samples.
2016
Metaproteomic analysis of air particulate matter provides information about the abundance and properties of bioaerosols in the atmosphere and their influence on climate and public health. We developed and applied efficient methods for the extraction and analysis of proteins from glass fiber filter samples of total, coarse, and fine particulate matter. Size exclusion chromatography was applied to remove matrix components, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was applied for protein fractionation according to molecular size, followed by in-gel digestion and LC-MS/MS analysis of peptides using a hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap MS. Maxquant software and the Swiss-…
Background element content of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea: A supra-national state of art implemented by novel field data from Italy
2018
Abstract In biomonitoring, the knowledge of background element content (BEC) values is an essential pre-requisite for the correct assessment of pollution levels. Here, we estimated the BEC values of a highly performing biomonitor, the epiphytic lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, by means of a careful review of literature data, integrated by an extensive field survey. Methodologically homogeneous element content datasets, reflecting different exposure conditions across European and extra-European countries, were compiled and comparatively analysed. Element content in samples collected in remote areas was compared to that of potentially enriched samples, testing differences between medians for 2…
Soot-exposed mononuclear cells increase inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression and protein secretion in cocultured bronchial epithelial cells.
2000
<i>Background:</i> Soot particles are air pollutants capable of inducing airway and lung parenchymal injury. Mononuclear and bronchial epithelial cells are central to the maintenance of homeostasis and inflammation in the airways. <i>Objectives:</i> The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of mononuclear cells to the release of inflammatory mediators by bronchial epithelial cells. <i>Methods:</i> To model the in vivo situation, an in vitro system of cocultured blood monocytes and BEAS-2B cells was established in a transwell system. Blood monocytes were exposed to soot particles (FR 101) at concentrations of up to 100 μg/10<sup>6</su…
Indoor air pollutants stimulate interleukin-8-specific mRNA expression and protein secretion of alveolar macrophages.
1998
Indoor air pollutants may cause inflammatory changes of the airways and adjacent pulmonary tissue. After phagocytosis of inhaled particles alveolar macrophages (AM) release chemotactic mediators capable of attracting inflammatory cells into the lung tissue. To evaluate these mechanisms further peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) and human AM (freshly recovered from the lower respiratory tract) were exposed to the indoor particles Soot FR 101 and Printex 90, the asbestos fiber Chrysotile B, and titanium dioxide (TiO2) at concentrations of 10 or 50 microg/10(6) cells for up to 8 h. The migration of granulocytes into the conditioned supernatants of AM and PBMNC was quantified by chemota…